Kevin Hart

Cast · Writer · Director

Born

July 6, 1979 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Birth name

Kevin Darnell Hart

“Laughter heals all wounds, and that's one thing that everybody shares. No matter what you're going through, it makes you forget about your problems.” Kevin Hart began his career as a stand-up comedian after high school. He started performing in smaller clubs in New York and Los Angeles, and his first stand-up album, I'm a Grown Little Man, was released in 2009. Hart's 2011 Laugh at My Pain tour grossed $15 million and was later made into a documentary, propelling him to Hollywood stardom. He appeared in comedies like Think Like a Man, Jumanji, Central Intelligence, and Get Hard. Raised by his mother after his father struggled with addiction and incarceration, Hart found humor to cope with his difficult childhood. His experiences later became the foundation for much of his comedy. Influenced by comedians like Chris Tucker and J.B. Smoove, Hart initially struggled in his comedy career, performing under the name Lil' Kev. After finding a mentor in comedian Keith Robinson, Hart began to find success with his authentic, real-life material. Hart’s breakthrough came in 2011 with Laugh at My Pain, which solidified his position as a top comedian. His subsequent stand-up films, Let Me Explain (2013) and What Now? (2016), followed. Along with his stand-up career, Hart starred in numerous films, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Soul Plane, Ride Along, Central Intelligence, and the Jumanji franchise. He also voiced roles in animated films such as The Secret Life of Pets and Captain Underpants. Hart ventured into drama with The Upside (2019), where he co-starred with Bryan Cranston, earning critical acclaim.